celebrate a little because writing the synopsis first is there (proving I'm not completely losing it!)

find new ideas (writing backwards sounds BRILLIANT!!! I always know my ending before I begin so this might work)

feel better when I see story bibles (I've done those - maybe I can do this plotting thing after all!)

Problem:

not sure if any of this will work

Solution:

give them a whirl! I won't lose anything by trying (plus I LOVE trying out new things)

if I can't deal with the explosions any more, maybe I'll just Pants out a new version and hope all this thinking helps me make that version stronger!

So how does any of this help you out?

some new ideas on plotting

a reminder to keep open to new ideas. You never know when something will send you scurrying in a new direction. For me, the best learning experiences have been when I learned something I'd never even considered before

another reminder that none of us work the same way -- and that's okay. Writing is a creative exercise and we should approach it that way. There is no one tried and true method that works for everyone. Don't be afraid to be unique! And, conversely, don't be afraid to borrow from others.

How about you? Are you a plotter? What has sent you in a new direction lately? Any other non-linear plotting techniques that might help me out?

Jemi Fraser is an aspiring author of contemporary romance. In between cranial explosions, she blogs and tweets while searching for those HEAs.

Kudos to you. Every story comes to the page in a unique way. This one just happens to need some plotting strategy. You're a brave and determined writer for tackling the issues using a tool you're not used to.

Great tips here. I read the Chuck Wendig article. I do something between Tentpoles and Beginning, Middle, End. I always write a log line and try to stick to it. Sometimes I know enough to write the blurb first, but never enough for a full synopsis.

I'm a plotter. I write the outline and pitch before I start. Still, I might end up abandoning a manuscript because it's not exciting enough, but these past few years I've submitted more manuscripts rather than putting them in a drawer.

Oh, you've got some great ideas here! I like the working backwards idea.

I'm a total plotter. I make a thorough outline of the story and break it into chapters, making sure that each chapter has significant action and contribution to the story. Sometimes the outline phase takes a while, but it makes drafting easier for me.